Sterling Board of Health

Profession: Retired from the Worcester County Court House where he was employed for 38 years.

Education: Graduate from the former High School of Commerce in Worcester; served in the US Army Second Armoured Division.

Civic/Municipal: Kitchen manager at James 2:15 Kitchen, Inc. in Clinton, for the past 16 years.

Over the past 16 years I have volunteered as a food handler and provided food service to the community. I have taken five classes through the University of Massachusetts. Class description "Food handling is a risky business." I have a Serve Safe Certificate from the University of Massachusetts. After five years expiration, I took classes at the Worcester County Food Bank. My current Serve Safe Certificate is good until 2011.

I have been kitchen manager for Norco Sportsman's Club and Eight Point Sportsman's Club. I have been kitchen manager at James 2:15 Kitchen, Inc. in Clinton, for the past 16 years.

I am a former board member of the Worcester County Food Bank and Wheat Inc. Currently I am a board member of MOC in Fitchburg and president of the board at James 2:15 Kitchen.

Inspections are very important because food handling is a "risky business." Stanley Selkow*

Address: 344 Upper North Row Road

Personal: Married to Deb Selkow, three children; Sterling resident since 1984

Profession: WPI professor since 1980; served as Public Health Officer at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

Education: Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Civic/Municipal: Served on Solid Waste Task Force, which started volunteer recycling in town; elected to Sterling Board of Health three years ago.

The Board of Health oversees a wide breadth of activities. Much of our energy has been spent, and will continue to be spent, ensuring that Title 5 regulations and Sterling bylaws are enforced to help assure the proper treatment of waste water. But we are also involved in many other activities, such as the inspection and permitting of eating establishments and stables.

Some of our efforts in maintaining public health involve the review and coordination of our jurisdictional activities with those of other town and state departments. For example, the board has been trained by Fire Chief David Hurlbut Jr. to participate in emergency preparedness for the town and respond to catastrophe or a possible future pandemic event. Incidences of certain diseases are reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and unexpected patterns are studied for possible common causes. We also work to minimize the spread of disease through wild or domestic animals.

I am awed when I reflect upon the responsibilities of the board. It has been a privilege to serve these last three years, and I would like to continue.